Abstract: Thermal decomposition of a reactant, XY, proceeds on a negative catalytic electrode to form products, X and Y. The product Y is a cellular reaction material, which separates into ions, Y.sup.+, and electrons, e.sup.-, on the negative catalytic electrode. The ions Y.sup.+ move through a solid electrolyte, the electrons e.sup.- pass through an external resistor, and the product X formed on the negative catalytic electrode is circulated to the positive catalytic electrode, therefore reproducing the reactant XY. Since the cellular reaction material Y need not be released from the top of the catalytic electrode, the invention is adapted to convert heat energy into electric energy efficiently as compared with conventional methods. In one embodiment, reactant XY is 2-propanol, and products X and Y are acetone and hydrogen, respectively.

Abstract: A catalytic reaction apparatus includes a catalytic reaction vessel containing a catalyst for an exothermic reaction. First and second catalyst regions contain a catalyst and have different catalytic performances from one another. At least two raw materials are introduced in the catalytic reaction vessel and passed through the first and second catalyst regions to react to generate heat. The heat is transferred to a heat medium arranged outside and contacting the catalytic reaction vessel so that distribution of temperature is controlled in the catalytic reaction vessel. The difference in catalytic performance is achieved by controlling concentration of the catalyst or by using different catalyst species.

Abstract: A catalytic reaction apparatus for carrying out an exothermic catalytic reaction includes a first vessel for containing a first raw material for the exothermic catalytic reaction; a second vessel for containing a second raw material for the exothermic catalytic reaction; a reaction vessel for carrying out therein the exothermic catalytic reaction which is connected to the first and second vessels and receives the first and second raw materials for the exothermic catalytic reaction, the reaction vessel having first and second regions respectively containing first and second catalysts having respective activities different from each other so that the first and second regions have different catalytic performances from one another; a first heat exchanger associated with the reaction vessel and containing a heating medium flowing through the first heat exchanger so that the heating medium receives heat generated by the exothermic reaction in the reaction vessel; a third vessel connected to the first heat exchanger